How to set up a basic resume and cover letter for first jobs
Starting your first resume and cover letter can feel intimidating, but you already have more to share than you think. This guide walks you step-by-step in clear, doable actions so you can create a simple, honest resume and a tailored one-page cover letter in about 2–4 hours total.
Step 1: Collect your basics
Spend 15–30 minutes listing your contact details, education, jobs, volunteer roles, clubs, courses, awards, and 3–5 skills. Include dates (month/year) and 1–2 short bullets for each experience to remember responsibilities and results. Having this master list saves time when you build documents.
[Illustration: desk with notebook, phone, and pens with list of experiences and dates]
Step 2: Choose a one-page layout
Pick a clean layout that fits one page: header, education, experience, skills, and optional activities. Use a readable font at 10–12 points and 1-inch margins so employers can scan quickly. Limiting to one page forces you to focus on your strongest points.
[Illustration: simple single-page resume mockup with clear sections and margins]
Step 3: Write concise bullet points
Turn each experience into 1–3 bullets using action verbs (managed, helped, created) and one concrete result or detail (served 20 customers daily, increased event attendance 30%). Aim for 10–12 bullets total to keep the page tight and meaningful.
[Illustration: close-up of resume section showing short action-oriented bullet points]
Step 4: Highlight transferable skills
List 6–8 skills that matter for jobs you want: communication, punctuality, cash handling, Microsoft Office, social media, or basic carpentry. Put top three skills near the top so a reader sees them in the first 5–10 seconds.
[Illustration: skills list with icons like chat bubble, clock, computer]
Step 5: Create a short summary line
Write one sentence under your header that states who you are and what you offer, for example: “High-school sophomore with 2 years customer service and strong time management seeking part-time retail role.” This orients the reader in one quick phrase.
[Illustration: resume header with a one-sentence profile summary beneath name and contact]
Step 6: Draft a tailored cover letter
Use a one-page structure: opening (1 sentence about the job), middle (2 short paragraphs showing 2 examples of relevant experience), and closing (1 sentence with availability and a thank you). Address the employer by name if possible and keep it to 150–250 words.
[Illustration: single-page cover letter with greeting, two short paragraphs, and closing signature]
Step 7: Proofread and export
Spend 10–20 minutes proofreading aloud, checking dates, and asking one person to review. Save both files as PDF and name them clearly like Lastname_Resume.pdf and Lastname_CoverLetter.pdf before sending. PDFs keep formatting consistent across devices.
[Illustration: computer screen showing Save As dialog with clear filenames]
- Use 1-inch margins and a standard font like Arial or Times New Roman to keep layout clean.
- Quantify achievements when possible: list numbers, times, frequencies, or group sizes (e.g., led a team of 4, served 30 customers/day).
- For dates use Month Year format (Jun 2023) and be consistent throughout the documents.
- Keep verbs in past tense for finished roles and present tense for current positions.
- Limit contact info to one phone number, one email (use a professional address), and city/state — omit full home address if uneasy.
- Create a simple master resume you can edit down for each job; tailoring each application takes 10–20 minutes extra.
- When emailing, attach both PDFs and write a short 1–2 sentence message in the email body referencing the role and attachments.
- Keep a folder with your master resume, cover letter template, and references list so you can apply quickly in 30–60 minutes.
- Don’t lie or exaggerate skills, dates, or responsibilities — employers check and it can cost opportunities.
- Avoid including unrelated personal details like social security number, birthdate, or religious affiliation.
- Beware of overly fancy templates with graphics that can break when printed; simple is safer.
- Don’t submit Word documents without asking — different versions can shift formatting and look unprofessional.
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